312 Parker St., East Longmeadow, MA 01028

If you're getting ready to put your home on the market, the thought of organizing, cleaning, and arranging it may seem like an overwhelming project!

Knowing where to begin and how much money to spend on home staging and decorating are among the many questions that may be flooding your mind, right now.

The key to success is to make as much of an impact as possible, without spending more money than necessary.

One way to avoid "spinning your wheels" when it comes to maximizing the appearance of your home is to work with an experienced real estate agent. A good agent will quickly notice aspects of your home that need attention and advise you on the most cost-effective ways to improve its marketability. If they've shown dozens (or more) houses in their career, they'll be very familiar with all the things that attract buyers, as well as what repels them.

Although everyone has different tastes and expectations, many house hunters are attracted to gleaming hardwood floors, energy efficient windows, and stainless steel appliances. While it may not be cost effective to have new floors, appliances, and windows installed to sell your house faster, you can make the best possible impression by making sure the windows are crystal clear, hardwood floors are polished, and appliances are clean and shiny.

Since many house hunters pay close attention to the kitchen, it's especially important to win their approval on appearance and cleanliness. Because food is prepared and often consumed in the kitchen, it's going to be one of the more challenging rooms to keep clean -- especially if you have children. However, if a prospective buyer is wavering between two houses for sale, you can be reasonably sure that the one with the clean kitchen and bathrooms will be their preferred choice.

There are a lot of other ways you can make your kitchen appealing to buyers, too. By minimizing clutter on counter tops and displaying fresh flowers and a colorful bowl of fruit, you can make your kitchen look much more inviting. Prospective buyers will also respond favorably to appealing fragrances, such as freshly baked bread, cookies, cinnamon buns, or coffee. Clean windows, attractive curtains, and plenty of natural light will also add to the ambiance of your kitchen.

The ideal reaction from potential buyers touring your home would be something to the effect of "I can imagine us preparing dinner, entertaining guests, and sitting around the breakfast table in this house!" Setting the table so that it looks like the family is just about to sit down for a meal together is one way to help convey that image. The encouraging news is that when someone expresses sincere appreciation for the comforts and features of your home, there's a good chance they'll find a place for it on their short list of possibilities!

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Did you recently move into a new house? Or do you want to change the look and feel of your home? Here are a few low intensive interior design tips you should consider carrying out. You don't have to break the bank, and you can do pretty much everything by yourself.

• Add a few potted plants to your kitchen or living areas. They serve as accessories and add some color to your home. On the health side, they help to absorb pollutants from the atmosphere. You also contribute to saving the environment whenever you go green.
• Paint your ceiling with a slightly lighter tone than the walls, and you can have any room looking brighter, even with only a few available windows.
• If you have small rooms and want them to look larger, that easy. Paint them in softer colors. Dark colors tend to give the illusion of cramped place. Open the room to more natural lighting, and it looks even more substantial.
• If you have limited natural lighting in a room because of unavailable windows or blockages, add a few decorative mirrors around the room, especially across from the available windows, as they will add the illusion of more lighting to the area.
• Add a throw rug to your hardwood floors for some extra warmth and comfort. Hardwood floors are low maintenance, but they take away the personal feel of a home. Adding a variety of throw rugs around the room brings back that personal touch.
• Remove excess furniture in a smaller room to make it look roomier than before. Let's face it; you probably don't need all those chairs. Better to do fewer high-quality furniture. The harder it is to maneuver around a room, the more crowded it is. 
• Hang your artwork and paintings at the right height. Do you know that the average human eye level is 57 inches from the floor? Well, curators of galleries and museums do, so they hang artwork, so the center of each piece is about 57 to 60 inches from the floor. You should probably borrow a leaf from them.
• Always go with the right curtain lengths. Just in case you didn't know, curtains and drapes should go all the way to the floor. If you are purchasing ready-made drapes, measure the curtain-rod-to-floor length and buy that. Or buy a size longer and then hem it up. If you are not sure of the right colors of drapes to pick, take a picture of your walls to the draper and ask for options that match your color scheme.

Before changing your décor to stage your home for sale, ask a professional stager or realtor for advice.

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The homebuying journey is exciting, particularly for an individual who is pursuing a residence for the first time. Ultimately, there are many questions that a buyer should consider before he or she searches for a house for the first time, and these include:

1. What is my "dream" home?

Perhaps the most enjoyable part of the homebuying journey involves defining your dream residence. Because once you define your dream residence, you'll be able to narrow your house search and move closer to purchasing your first home.

Think about what you absolutely require in a new home. For example, if you want to own a house in a region where the weather is hot and humid year-round, you may require a central air conditioning system. Or, if you want to enjoy a fast, easy commute to work, you may want to pursue residences close to your office.

2. How much can I afford to spend on a house?

Getting pre-approved for a mortgage is essential. Because if you have a mortgage in hand when you begin your house search, you may be able to gain a competitive advantage over rival homebuyers.

To obtain a mortgage, you should meet with a variety of banks and credit unions. These financial institutions can teach you everything you need to know about fixed- and adjustable-rate mortgages.

In addition, don't hesitate to get expert insights into assorted mortgage options. The longer you wait to get pre-approved for a mortgage, the longer you may need to wait to kick off your home search. Thus, you risk missing out on a potential dream house if you fail to get your home financing in order.

3. Do I need to hire a real estate agent?

Hiring a real estate agent is a must, especially if you plan to embark on the homebuying journey for the first time. In fact, a real estate agent can help you quickly and effortlessly navigate the housing market and discover your ideal residence in no time at all.

Typically, a real estate agent will offer comprehensive assistance at each stage of the homebuying journey. He or she first will meet with you, learn about your homebuying goals and help you craft a homebuying strategy. A real estate agent then will keep you up to date about houses that match your criteria and set up home showings. And when you find a home that you want to buy, a real estate agent will help you submit a competitive offer and negotiate with a seller's agent on your behalf.

Let's not forget about the advice that a real estate agent will provide, either. A real estate agent is unafraid to be honest with you and will provide feedback throughout the homebuying journey. Also, if you ever have homebuying concerns or questions, a real estate agent is ready to respond to them.

Take the guesswork out of finding and acquiring your first house – employ a real estate agent, and you can receive plenty of support as you move along the homebuying journey.

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